United Airlines blames Boeing problems for $200m hit to earnings

Carrier says three-week grounding of 737 Max 9 planes after Alaska Airlines blowout cost it profit

United Airlines has blamed a $200m (£161m) hit to its earnings in the first three months of the year on the mid-flight blowout that forced it to ground many of its Boeing planes.

The US carrier said the three-week grounding of Boeing’s 737 Max 9 planes after a cabin panel blew out on flight operated by rival Alaska Airlines at the start of January contributed to a $124m loss for the three months up to the end of March.